What day is it?

What day is it? Must be Friday since Duane isn’t laying next to me. What’s on my agenda today? These are the first thoughts I had this morning when I opened my eyes to begin a new day. We returned from racing The Mint 400 on March 11th. I have only left my gates at The Ridge for basic grocery supplies a few times. Being here has been my normal for about 10 years. You see, once our kids moved off to college and my tenure as a local school trustee ended, I confess…I became a hermit. Aside from sales calls for my business, the occasional dinner with my gal tribe, or traveling to see Alesi, you will find me here - safe inside my gates. When our chickens flew the coop for college was about the time Duane and I started building our new shop. It helped keep me busy and gave us time to adjust to our new normal as “empty nesters”. The more time I spent here, the easier it was to make excuses NOT to leave and I have become a master of having items to cook. Around here, my family calls it “Leif Surprise”. They don’t usually ask what we are having because they already know I’ll pull something together with what I have in the pantry. Where am I going with this? Despite becoming a homebody, I have always been accustomed to coming and going when I got the itch. Especially if Alesi is here for a visit. Our first stop after I pick her up from the airport is most always Chuy’s. I didn’t do that this last time and we are missing it. We would usually spend the day shopping at our favorite spots or pampering ourselves and depending on how early we got started, two visits to Chuy’s was not unusual. One thing is certain, a lot of people are going to look much different when this is all over…including me! Duane has impeccable timing and just summed up my closing with this text, “You are the luckiest girl in the world. I got your chickens home. We both need to realize how good we really have it. So do the chickens!” You are so right Duane. I am thankful we are all here to weather this storm and ride it out together. We will be fine and figure out how to enjoy this current journey we are on. Here’s to future Chuy’s visits with plenty of New Mexican Martini’s, Grandma’s Rocking Rita’s, Creamy Jalapeno dip, Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken with flour tortillas, Custom Roasted Chicken Enchiladas with Boom-Boom Sauce and Tres Leches for dessert!